The Clay Bar...

VR3
VR3 Posts: 28,641
edited August 2007 in Car Audio & Electronics
I finally broke down and tried a clay bar...

And after using it --- my paint looks 100 times better, and far far easier to wax with less abrasions...

I'm very impressed and it was very easy to use, albeit -- a lil expensive to use... but impressing none the less.

Possibly the best my paint has looked since I got this truck...
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
Post edited by VR3 on
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited July 2007
    Pictures!!!!!

    That's kind of making me want to get a clay bar. Especially since I'm going to be washing and waxing Dad's Jetta now (or so it appears). Would probably be better used on that than my Jeep.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited July 2007
    I used one to remove the overspray from my roll bar, worked great.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Fireman32
    Fireman32 Posts: 4,845
    edited July 2007
    i have been using the clay bar for a few years now and i love it.
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  • BIZILL
    BIZILL Posts: 5,432
    edited July 2007
    i like that after having clay barred, i can glide my microfiber towels across my hood and it will not snag once.

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  • michael_w
    michael_w Posts: 2,813
    edited July 2007
    Thanks for the idea. I'll have to try this when I get a car with glossy paint ;)
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,641
    edited July 2007
    To lazy to take pics...

    But normally when you wax you can feel certain things on the paint... after using the clay bar... no snags, no drag... just smooth smooth smooth...

    Finish is immaculate in the shine... no issues what so ever...

    Love it, took me about 5 hours --- clar bar... one coat of wax... polishing the chrome/metal - armor all the outside parts, then wax where the polish hit the paint and the panels that get the most sun...

    Was outside from 8am to 6:30pm!

    But worth it, very clean truck - engine, interior, exterior, everything.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited July 2007
    If I had something worth using a clay bar on, I'd get one.

    The used GMC lot in town has this particular vehicle for sale:
    06537a264046381e004218cb49b21198.jpg

    Man, if I had that thing. No kidding, I'd give one of my balls to own that. :drooooooooool:
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    Jstas wrote: »
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    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
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  • eloplayspolo
    eloplayspolo Posts: 1,117
    edited July 2007
    its a VW, your nuts.
    As far as the clay bar goes its what the pros use and have used since clear coats came out, before that they used rubbing compound which takes off a little bit of paint, if your car doesnt have a clear coat and u want the same effect go with the rubbing compound, turtles is actualy very good, it looks red and gets every little thing off.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,641
    edited July 2007
    Mike

    You are making a clay bar sound like a huge investment... lol

    Wax = 7-8 bucks
    Detailer/Lubricant = 5 bucks

    Clay Bar with wax and lubricant = 17 bucks...

    Clay Bar cost... 5-6 bucks
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • eloplayspolo
    eloplayspolo Posts: 1,117
    edited July 2007
    Mothers's Detail kit = 16 bucks.
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  • michael_w
    michael_w Posts: 2,813
    edited July 2007
    Hehe, No I mean that I don't think clay bar + flat black paint work well together. I'm looking at a different car (gloss black) and that'll get dirty sooo fast so hopefully I'll use your detailing ideas to keep it clean for longer. Properly waxed cars don't get dirty anywhere near as fast.
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  • G-force
    G-force Posts: 82
    edited July 2007
    eloplayspolo wrote: »
    its a VW, your nuts.

    And this coming from a guy with a civic????

    If it doesn't have a shopping cart wing and baby-blue primered bumpers you must be nuts. Classic.
    MUGENN PWNZ!!!!:rolleyes:
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  • eloplayspolo
    eloplayspolo Posts: 1,117
    edited July 2007
    if your trying to compare the quality of a VW and a honda, talk to any kind of skilled mechanic or a member of the auto industry. your out of your mind.
    Order of Quality in Cars:
    1. Toyota/Lexus/Scion
    2. Honda/Acura
    3. Nissian/Infinity

    Anyone whos been in the auto industry will agree with this, unless they are complete idiots.
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited August 2007
    eloplayspolo wrote: »
    if your trying to compare the quality of a VW and a honda, talk to any kind of skilled mechanic or a member of the auto industry. your out of your mind.
    Order of Quality in Cars:
    1. Toyota/Lexus/Scion
    2. Honda/Acura
    3. Nissian/Infinity

    Anyone whos been in the auto industry will agree with this, unless they are complete idiots.
    I know TONS of people in the auto industry. And yes, a LOT agree with you. But a LOT of others don't.

    And I'm with the latter group.
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
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  • 1996blackmax
    1996blackmax Posts: 2,436
    edited August 2007
    I too have been using clay bar for a while now. I usually do the clay bar first, then follow it up with the Meguiar's cleaner, polish, and finally the wax. This combo puts a very nice shine on the cars.
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  • Sami
    Sami Posts: 4,634
    edited August 2007
    While you're at it, stop by and clay bar my GT-R too. It's a lot of work and I'm too lazy to do it but one of these days I'll have to. If you're detailing your car a lot, buy a buffer, it will save you a lot of time and it's only $20-30.
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  • 1996blackmax
    1996blackmax Posts: 2,436
    edited August 2007
    Yeah, but then you wont be sore the next day :D.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,641
    edited August 2007
    Actually..

    I waxed it by hand the other day...

    Overall it took longer, but I thought it was easier...

    No cables, didnt have to go find my applicator pad to go in the spots the buffer couldnt..
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • G-force
    G-force Posts: 82
    edited August 2007
    eloplayspolo wrote: »
    if your trying to compare the quality of a VW and a honda, talk to any kind of skilled mechanic or a member of the auto industry. your out of your mind.
    Order of Quality in Cars:
    1. Toyota/Lexus/Scion
    2. Honda/Acura
    3. Nissian/Infinity

    Anyone whos been in the auto industry will agree with this, unless they are complete idiots.

    I personally I dont buy my cars strictly on dependability charts or what a "skilled mechanic" tells me lol!

    Performance, styling and an all around fun factor play in my auto purchases. I've owned some of the mfg you listed and if I was to buy a new daily driver sedan that I did not care to much about I would probably look into one of your "skilled mechanic's" top choices.

    Here's my current fleet:My cars

    BTW, I've been using clay for about 12 years now and have turned dozens of people onto it in that time. I remember when it was a detailer's secret. Definitely a must have cleaning tool for any car lover.
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,726
    edited August 2007
    I use all the Zaino stuff personally, but any claybar from Mothers or whatever you can find on the shelf should do the trick.

    Don't get me started on car detailing, we'll be here all night...
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  • michael_w
    michael_w Posts: 2,813
    edited August 2007
    Does it help if the car is warmish (not hot, but warm) from the sun or is it best to do it in the shade?
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,641
    edited August 2007
    Shade! :)
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Sami
    Sami Posts: 4,634
    edited August 2007
    Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote: »
    Shade! :)

    Seconded with an exclamation point as well!!! :)
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited August 2007
    G-force wrote: »
    Here's my current fleet:My cars
    Dang. Color me VERY green.
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited August 2007
    my friend just bought a VW Rabbit.. black. nice car..
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  • honda cber
    honda cber Posts: 267
    edited August 2007
    eloplayspolo wrote: »
    if your trying to compare the quality of a VW and a honda, talk to any kind of skilled mechanic or a member of the auto industry. your out of your mind.
    Order of Quality in Cars:
    1. Toyota/Lexus/Scion
    2. Honda/Acura
    3. Nissian/Infinity

    Anyone whos been in the auto industry will agree with this, unless they are complete idiots.

    hmm... i am "any kind of skilled mechanic or a member of the auto industry", lol, and am not sure i agree with your rankings. on what exactly do you base your ratings of "quality"? GM and ford aside, what about mercedes benz? audi? porsche? subaru? etc etc? substandard suck-mobiles? and wth is a nissian? they didnt mention those in the ASE literature................................
    true, the typical honda is easy to work on (really, you need like 4 wrench sizes), but have you ever worked on, say, a 3.2 TL? how about a lexus IS? my arms are almost too fat to even change the oil filter on that one. and who in the hell designed the scion xb? my lawn tractor has sleeker styling (and arguably less headroom :rolleyes: )... BTW, any american ricer will tell you that their 150hp souped-up civics are not OBDII compliant. unless they are complete idiots :rolleyes:

    oh yes, clay bars are great! they are perfect for restorations, too, provided the original paint isnt just shot. i used one on this with fantastic results:
    sidesm.jpg
    besides, its a honda. it MUST be good.


    a
    gear list:
    1 down, 4 up....
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  • ilikesound
    ilikesound Posts: 355
    edited August 2007
    danger boy wrote: »
    my friend just bought a VW Rabbit.. black. nice car..

    ATLANTA, GA – Gaywheels.com, the sole source of information specifically targeted to and about ****, ****, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) car-shoppers, today announced its list of the Top 10 Most-Researched Vehicles during the second quarter of 2007. For the fourth straight quarter, the entry-level Toyota Yaris maintained the top position, while for the first time ever, a Nissan product, the Infiniti-branded FX sport-utility vehicle, joined the list.

    Gaywheels.com Top 10 Most Researched Vehicles -April - June, 2007

    1. Toyota Yaris
    2. Saab 9-3 (sedan and convertible)
    3. Mazda MX-5
    4. Volkswagen Jetta
    5. VW EOS
    6. Dodge Caliber
    7. Toyota Camry
    8. Audi A3
    9. VW Rabbit
    10. Infiniti FX


    -exerpt taken from GayWheels.com
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,641
    edited August 2007
    Possibly the oddest post to date.

    Goes to ...

    Ilikesound!
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • G-force
    G-force Posts: 82
    edited August 2007
    What's funny is all the idiots that make up these "**** car" lists are the people that have issues with their own manhood, or lack thereof. Many times these are also the guys that drive the big jacked up trucks with BadBoy stickers trying to squeeze the slightest twinge of their masculinity all over anybody willing to look their direction.

    You want to find a really secure man? Look to the guy that is driving one of those 10 cars and not worried about what all the other people around them think. The ironic thing is that these are the guys that women are more attracted to, because of secure confidence. Money can buy you alot of things, but not real confidence.

    While I drive my little VW cabriolet (bright yellow to boot), I'll be laughing at you sorry saps constantly worrying about how others perceive you.

    I'm almost offended my cabriolet isn't on top of that list...:p
    694724_129_full.jpg
    Hugs and Kisses~ G-force
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  • honda cber
    honda cber Posts: 267
    edited August 2007
    lol g-force
    gear list:
    1 down, 4 up....
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